BRIEF: FedEx gives retired 727 to D/FW Airport

Sep. 18--FedEx gave one of its recently retired Boeing 727-200 planes to Dallas/Fort Worth Airport on Monday.

The plane has reached the end of its flying life, and the package-delivery company needs to make room for newer jets joining its fleet.

The 27-year-old plane will be used by the airport as a mock-up for training firefighters. D/FW Airport brings in firefighters from around the world to practice putting out fires in the fuselage of a commercial-sized jet.

The engines of the FedEx plane will be taken off and shipped back to company headquarters in Memphis. FedEx, which will not be able to take a tax write-off for the donation, values the engineless plane at $1 million, company officials said.

The company has given 37 retired Boeing 727s to museums, aircraft-mechanic schools and airport fire departments.

It has also sold about the same amount to other aircraft operators.

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